REAL TALK, OCTOBER

PHOTO BY DANNY FULGENCIO

Our reality TV issue proved timely. A few short weeks after its release, Bravo announced The Real Housewives franchise was coming to Dallas. Though the cast is still top secret (as of press time), many media outlets speculate we’ll be seeing a lot more of our cover girls LeeAnne Locken and Heidi Dillon. We’re confident they’ll make for great TV. They effortlessly speak their minds. The ladies quickly trashed the $10 sparkling wine we poured them as “total shit” and dished on Preston Hollow gossip. Yet they were down to earth. Locken even admitted “If you put a glass of champagne in front of me, I’m going to drink it” with a laugh.

John Tesar’s reputation precedes him. He’s known for slamming restaurant critics on Twitter, throwing drunken temper tantrums and failing to show up to Advocate photo shoots. But our photo editor Danny Fulgencio says snapping pictures of Tesar couldn’t have been easier: “He was very gregarious and we talked about everything — fatherhood, surfing, all of that.” Phew!

Arnie Verbeek, Preston Hollow resident and owner of Maple Avenue Boxing Gym, arrived at our office with props — an impressive collection of rare boxing gloves. This pair by Louis Vuitton, one of only seven sold in the United States, didn’t make it into our October issue, but they begged to be shared.

JUMPING FOR ELEPHANTS, APRIL

PHOTO BY RASY RAN

Our story about Maya Elia was one of our best read this year. It’s easy to see why — Elia is a remarkable young lady. At only 16 years old, she runs a successful charity. Elepants donates 100 percent of proceeds from its sale of harem pants to the Thai Elephant Conservation Center. Since its inception, the nonprofit has raised several thousand dollars for the cause. But in spite of her success, the Urusline Academy of Dallas student remains youthful. Advocate photographer Rasy Ran caught Elia jumping playfully on her bed during this photo shoot. Elephant knickknacks, of course, decorate the foreground.